Homeless after truck towed

A homeless man who lost his shelter when his vehicle was impounded by police expressed frustration while pleading guilty to a charge of driving while prohibited.

Joseph De Repentigny pleaded guilty Wednesday in Vernon provincial court. He said he was "hurt" when Mounties impounded his truck after he was caught driving while prohibited in June 2022.

“I was living in my truck — my whole life was drove away,” he said in court. “To be honest it’s bringing up a lot of friggin hurt for me right now.”

Provincial court Judge Gregory Koturbash said he accepted De Repentigny’s frustrations about being a prohibited driver in the first place, but that he needed to enter his guilty plea voluntarily — a standard practice in court.

Koturbash also told De Repentigny he could enter a not guilty plea and proceed to trial if he so chose. De Repentigny's lawyer eventually decided being upset about the prohibition was not a legal defence.

De Repentigny eventually entered a reluctant but voluntary guilty plea and sentenced to a further prohibition of 12 months. He was also ordered to pay $650 in fines.

“I'll never understand anything, but yes, I'll agree with it,” he said in court.